2019 Gauteng provincial election explained

Election Name:2019 Gauteng provincial election
Country:South Africa
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2014 Gauteng provincial election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2024 Gauteng provincial election
Next Year:2024
Seats For Election:All 73 seats to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
37 seats needed for a majority
Election Date:8 May 2019
Party1:African National Congress
Last Election1:53.59%
Seats Before1:40
Seats1:37
Seat Change1: 3
Popular Vote1:2,168,253
Percentage1:50.19%
Swing1: 3.40%
Party2:Democratic Alliance (South Africa)
Last Election2:30.78%
Seats Before2:23
Seats2:20
Seat Change2: 3
Popular Vote2:1,185,743
Percentage2:27.45%
Swing2: 3.33%
Candidate3:Mandisa Mashego
Party3:Economic Freedom Fighters
Last Election3:10.30%
Seats Before3:8
Seats3:11
Seat Change3: 3
Popular Vote3:634,387
Percentage3:14.69%
Swing3:4.39%
Image4: FF+
Candidate4:Anton Alberts
Party4:Freedom Front Plus
Last Election4:1.20%
Seats Before4:1
Seats4:3
Seat Change4: 2
Popular Vote4:153,844
Percentage4:3.56%
Swing4: 2.36%
Color4:ec8713
Image5: IFP
Candidate5:Bonginkosi Wesley Dhlamini
Party5:Inkatha Freedom Party
Last Election5:0.78%
Seats Before5:1
Seats5:1
Seat Change5:0
Popular Vote5:38,263
Percentage5:0.89%
Swing5: 0.11%
Color5:FF0000
Image6: ACDP
Candidate6:Dulton Adams
Party6:African Christian Democratic Party
Last Election6:0.62%
Seats Before6:0
Seats6:1
Seat Change6:1
Popular Vote6:30,605
Percentage6:0.71%
Swing6: 0.09%
Color6:ba0c2f
Premier
Before Election:David Makhura
Before Party:African National Congress
After Party:African National Congress

The 2019 Gauteng provincial election was held on 8 May 2019, concurrently with the 2019 South African general election, to elect the 73 members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

Incumbent Premier David Makhura led the ruling African National Congress (ANC), with the party attempting to retain its majority status and secure Makhura a second full term in office as premier. The media and political analysts widely expected that the ANC would lose its majority in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, therefore it was considered to be the most hotly-contested province in this election cycle.

The Official Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) nominated Mayor of Tshwane Solly Msimanga to be its premier candidate. Msimanga was elected Tshwane Mayor in the aftermath of the 2016 South African municipal elections as the ANC had lost its majority in the Tshwane City Council. The DA did also manage to gain control of the City of Johannesburg and Mogale City.[1] [2] [3] [4]

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which won 8 seats and clinched the title of the third largest party in 2014, was expected to grow in this election, possibly holding the balance of power, if the ANC had lost its majority.[5] [6]

The fourth largest party in the provincial legislature, the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), saw Gauteng as a province of significant importance for its election campaign. The party nominated Member of Parliament and advocate Anton Alberts as its premier candidate.[7] [8] [9]

The provincial election was won by the ruling ANC, but with a reduced seat total of only 37 seats, the threshold for a majority. The DA underperformed and lost support in this election, losing a total of three seats, which only gave the party 20 seats in the provincial legislature. The EFF grew its support and won three additional seats. The FF+ gained two seats, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) retained its sole seat. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) returned to the provincial legislature by winning one seat.[10] [11]

Results

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/maimane-announces-msimanga-as-gauteng-premier-candidate/ Maimane announces Msimanga as Gauteng Premier candidate
  2. https://mg.co.za/article/2018-08-19-solly-msimanga-da-premier-candidate-for-2019 DA's Solly Msimanga Gauteng premier candidate for 2019
  3. https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-08-19-solly-msimanga-named-as-das-candidate-for-gauteng-premier/ Solly Msimanga named as DA’s candidate for Gauteng premier
  4. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/politics/2018-08-19-the-da-chooses-solly-msimanga-as-preferred-gauteng-premier-candidate/ The DA chooses Solly Msimanga as preferred Gauteng Premier candidate
  5. https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/elections-2019-irr-voter-survey-surge-eff-support/ Elections 2019: IRR voter survey shows surge in EFF support since 2014
  6. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-04-30-is-this-the-2019-election-result-anc-61-da-19-eff-11-ifp-3-ff-1/ Is this the 2019 Election result? ANC 61%, DA 19%, EFF 11%, IFP 3% & FF+ 1%
  7. http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ffplus-announces-gauteng-premier-candidate/ FFPlus announces Gauteng premier candidate
  8. Mirrian, Natasha. 2021: ANC, DA could lose metros, Mail & Guardian, 17 May 2019. Retrieved on 11 July 2019.
  9. https://www.vfplus.org.za/media-releases/adv-anton-alberts-member-of-parliament-and-chairperson-of-the-ff-plus-was-appointed-as-the-partys-premier-candidate-for-gauteng Adv. Anton Alberts, Member of Parliament and chairperson of the FF Plus, was appointed as the party’s premier candidate for Gauteng
  10. https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2019-05-11-anc-holds-on-to-gauteng-by-a-whisker/ ANC holds on to Gauteng by a whisker
  11. https://www.enca.com/news/anc-holding-victory-gauteng-now ANC holding onto victory in Gauteng, for now